32 British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



Family— A L CEDINID^E. 



The Kingfisher. 



Ala-do ispida, LiNN. 



IN Europe our Kingfisher rarely breeds north of lat. 55°, though it has been 

 accidentalh" found breeding once in southern Scandinavia ; in Russia it 

 rarely straggles as far north as St. Petersburg, and to Denmark it is onlj- a 

 visitor ; southwards, however, it breeds throughout Europe, occurring in suitable 

 localities down to the Mediterranean ; is resident in the Canaries, and Madeira, 

 and is said to breed in Algeria and Morocco ; it also winters in Egypt. Races 

 of our species, differing chiefl}^ in size and length of wing, have been separated 

 under the names of A. pal las ii and A. benoahiisis. 



Generally distributed in suitable localities throughout the British Islands, 

 though rare in Sutherlandshire, and not occurring in the extreme north of Scotland 

 including the Orkneys and Shetlands, or in the Outer Hebrides. In Ireland it 

 is said to occur most frequently in the lowland districts. 



The adult male Kingfisher has the crown and nape blue-black, each feather 

 barred Avith variable emerald green changing to cobalt ; back, rump, and upper 

 tail-coverts gloss}' cobalt-blue, greenish in certain lights ; tail indigo blue, the 

 outermost feathers greenish ; wing-coverts dull deep green, spotted with greenish 

 cobalt ; primaries black, mostly bluish along the outer web ; lores and ear-coverts 

 chestnut, a patch of buffish-white tipped with chestnut at side of neck ; a broad 

 variable greenish-blue moustachial streak, with bright blue shaft-streaks to the 

 feathers ; chin and throat bufiish-white, shading into the chestnut of the under 

 parts on the fore-chest ; under wing-coverts paler chestnut ; quills below ashy-grey ; 

 bill black, orange at base; feet salmon red; iris dark brown. The female is 

 rather duller and greener than the male. The 3'oung are paler and somewhat 

 brownish ; breast browner, with greyish bars ; bill entirely black ; feet brown. 



The haunts of the Kingfisher are rivers, streams, drains, ornamental waters, 

 lakes, reservoirs, pools, and ponds, the preference being given to such as are fringed 

 by brushwood, trees, and brambles ; though one autumn I saw two Kingfishers 

 sailing to and fro over the open reservoirs at Battersea ; probably they did not 

 long remain there, for on the evening of the same da}' I saw either one of the 



